april 2012 Vol 12 | No 4

Top 100Contractors

Piping challengesmet at Portland, Ore.Federal building

p 32

Diversification &flexibility define Denver’s RK Mechanical

p 26

MECHANICAL CONTRACTING

Top 100 Listing

p 28

HYDRONICS

Tankless Water Heaters

p 44

KITCHEN + BATHColor Trends

p 56

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COVER STORYColorado dreamin’No. 22 on the Top 100 Contractors Listing, RKMechanical began 49 years ago in Nebraska andnow is one of the most innovative, forward-thinking mechanical contractors in Colorado witha global reputation for excellence and bases itssuccess on solid, advantageous relationships amongcustomers, suppliers and employees. p 26On the cover: Ralph L. Carr Justice Center, Denver

MECHANICALCONTRACTING

20 Morris BeschlossIndependent businesses spur economy whilebuilding boomlet in rental residential adds energy

26 Top 100 Contractors

32 Piping renovation38-year-old Portland Federal building feels its age,gets total pipe upgrade

34 I feel the Earth move...Earthquakes can devastate piping systems, butgrooved fittings withstand destructive tremors

36 Enchantment in Santa FeNew Mexico father-son HVAC success story

HYDRONICS40 Dan Foley

Online tools you can use

44 Tankless product report

PLUMBING48 Richard DiToma

Don’t be the cheapest plumber!

52 Touch-free techPatrons demand more sanitary fixtures in publicrestrooms; here’s the lowdown on touch-free

KITCHEN + BATH56 Linda Jennings

Color trends — tangerine tango

60 Peter SchorAccentuate the positive; and see you at K/BIS!

GREEN SYSTEMS64 Bristol Stickney

You can install an excessive number of solarcollectors; so how many are too many?

68 Green goes to schoolGrad students, architectural guru apply holisticmethods to KU’s R&D center

CONTENTS APRIL 2012

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Learn more:www.webstonevalves.com/pro-pal(800) 225-9529

G U A R A N T E E D F O R L I F E

Normal HandleClosed Position

Reversed HandleClosed Position

Reversed HandleOpen Position

Normal HandleOpen Position

WHEN YOU COULD

DO THIS!

Compact Design

Reversible handle directs ow into the hi-fl ow hose

drain from either side of the ball

T-Flow Ball

NEW DESIGN: NOW INCLUDES

FUNCTIONALITY

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and furniture that needs a boost, therereally is nothing quite like a squirt oftangerine. Whether you choose a one-inch cone, two-inch round knob, orfive-inch pull, these shapes combinedwith color have attitude. Inexpensiveand easy to install, they add budget-friendly, instant, high-voltage style.

"I love this color because it

romances the consumer... I see hotsummer nights, playful encounters inthe town piazza, and retro fashion atits liveliest, says Adrienne Morea,CEO and Creative Director of AtlasHomewares. “Dull, boring oruninteresting consumers need notapply!"

Aquabrass’ Lady Chef kitchenfaucet adds a jolt of color to thekitchen with its orange retro coloredspirals. The professional pull down

spray kitchen faucet will give youmotivation to host dinner parties as anexcuse to show it off!

Every room in the home can get ajolt of energy by incorporating a splashof Pantone’s new Tangerine Tango2012 color of the year. The best wayto use this TANGERINE color trend isto introduce just a small accent – likea knob on a bedside cabinet; pillowson a sofa; a fabulous orange-ish redserving bowl on the center of thedining room table with matchingnapkins; or even tangerine coloredsoaps in the bathroom. This also is agreat time to bring out your vintageFiesta Ware... An orange plate and cupfor the table or an orange mixing bowlon the kitchen counter will bring thisclassic dinnerware into the current.

For those a bit more daring,experiment with painting one walltangerine for a drama point. And forthose who have a passion for color, gobolder with an orange-painted clawfoot tub in the bath or an orangecountertop in the kitchen. This year,it’s all about color and creating a pointof drama, and kitchen and bathshowrooms need to gear up for this

emerging color trend.”Tangerine Tango takes us boldly into

the new year with confidence.Eismann perhaps put it best when shesaid, “There’s the element ofencouragement with orange, it’sbuilding on the ideas of courage andaction, that we want to move on tobetter things.” It’s definitely time toTango! l

KITCHEN + BATH e Continued from p 56

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mGet the Look!For more info on the trendsmentioned here go to:

Atlas Homewares800-799-6755www.atlashomewares.com

Pyrolave USA919-788-8953www.pyrolave.com

Victoria + Albert800-421-7189www.vandabaths.com

Decolav561-274-2110www.decolav.com

Aquabrass514-381-4141www.aquabrass.com

e Circle 37 on reader reply form on page 85

Atlas Homeware’svibrant Indochineseries of knobsand pullsadd a touchof tangerine.